“We Know” all Things Work Together for Good…

"And we know that all things work together for good to those who love God, to those who are the called according to His purpose." Romans 8:28

Over the years, this beautiful verse has been applied to just about every circumstance and groups of peoples imaginable. And yet, for all its beauty and profound eternal promises – its truths promises apply to the children of God alone!

The “we” of verse 28 are the “saints” of Romans 8:27:

“And in like manner the Spirit also helpeth our infirmity: for WE know not how to pray as WE ought; but the Spirit himself maketh intercession for US with groanings which cannot be uttered; and he that searcheth the hearts knoweth what is the mind of the Spirit, because he maketh intercession for the SAINTS according to the will of God.” Romans 8:26-27

We saints “know” that ALL things work together for good too. Followers of Jesus Christ count the cost of discipleship and know Jesus says:

"And he who does not take his cross and follow after Me is not worthy of Me. He who finds his life will lose it, and he who loses his life for My sake will find it." Matthew 10:38-39

Loving God means laying our lives down for our Savior! We are challenged to maintain steadfast trust in God, even amidst trials and suffering:

"Be faithful until death, and I will give you the crown of life" Rev. 2:10

The great promise of Romans 8:28 is that God will “work all things good” for those of us who love Him! He rules over and through every tragedy and infirmity cause by sin's presence in this world - to accomplish His purposes in the lives of those who love Him and who have responded to His call.

We saints also “know” that God, in His sovereignty, works all things out – even when we cannot see how. Listen to what Israel’s ancient prophet Amos declared long ago:

"For behold, He who forms mountains, And creates the wind, Who declares to man what his thought is, And makes the morning darkness, Who treads the high places of the earth-The Lord God of hosts is His name" Amos 4:13

God is God and we are not.

We saints also know that we are “called according to His purpose” also:

"Who has saved us and called us with a holy calling, not according to our works, but according to His own purpose and grace which was given to us in Christ Jesus before time began." II Timothy 1:9

That is us!

According to His purpose means just what it says. That removes us completely out of the picture, doesn't it? He has laid out for us foreknowledge, calling, predestination, and justification. We can trust Him!

"For all things are for your sakes, that grace, having spread through the many, may cause thanksgiving to abound to the glory of God." II Corinthians 4:15

There are some experiences that He has allowed me to clearly see at the start of it. At other times, I was not sure why it was happening. Still other times, I remain clueless to His purposes in working out the “good” He promises.

Nevertheless, because He has total control and I “know” this truth - I praise Him!

I “know” that all things work together for good to those who love God, to those who are the called according to His purpose because He loves me and I too, love Him:

“Whosoever shall confess that Jesus is the Son of God, God abideth in him, and he in God. And we know and have believed the love which God hath in us. God is love; and he that abideth in love abideth in God, and God abideth in him. Herein is love made perfect with us, that we may have boldness in the day of judgment; because as he is, even so are we in this world. There is no fear in love: but perfect love casteth out fear, because fear hath punishment; and he that feareth is not made perfect in love. We love, because he first loved us.” I John 4:15-19

Close and personal:

1. Can you go back in your lives and see His hand taking you places that you could not have planned out beforehand?

2. How might you view Romans 8:28 from now on?

"Dear Lord Jesus, Thank you for always knowing what is best for us! Help us to always remember that you are great, and majestic! You created this universe so how could we ever doubt that you know what is best for us! Forgive us Lord for those times in our walk where we doubted! Thank you Father for reminding us that "all things do work for good!" I love you, Jesus, my Savior, my redeemer, and my Great I am!"

In Him,